Today is a national holiday for the USA, but let me start with the Winter Olympics, and more specifically how our neighbor to the north is doing, Canada. President Donald has certainly had his moments so far. Here is a status report from Time magazine.- At one point they were near the bottom in medals earned.
- Both their women's and men's curling team were accused of cheating, which might be too strong a word for accidentally touching a stone.
As of this afternoon, Canada has only 10 medals (one gold), putting them in 10th place.- Mind you, when they hosted in Vancouver in 2010, they won 14 golds and topped the world with 26 medals.
- Their figure skating team has not done much.
- Their women's hockey team has already lost to the USA, 5-0. However, there will almost surely be Canada vs U.S. gold medal games for both their men and women teams, so chances remain.
- And, oh, even with the curling accusations, the Canadian men's curling team is 4-1 in round robin play.
They can't look forward to the World Cup later this year, for while they will co-host with Mexico and the U.S., the best they have ever finished is 24th.- American superstars are also not doing well. The last time I looked, the USA remained at 17 total medals.
From Time magazine, 10 surprising facts about Presidents' Day.
- This is one of the earliest federal holidays enacted by Congress in 1879, but it was originally called Washington's Birthday.
- When George Washington was born on February 11 in 1731, the British Empire used the Julian Calendar. This shifted in 1752 to the Gregorian calendar, the day moved forward 11 days and his birthday was celebrated on February 22, but in the year 1732.
When the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, the law moved the holiday from February 22 to the third Monday in February to incorporated Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12. This was then called President's Day, but only "unofficially." This legal Monday holiday is still called Washington's Birthday.
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, remains as a public holiday today in some states: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California, Missouri and New York.- Note that Presidents' Day can never fall on Washington's birthday.
Cherry Pie is associated with President's Day. Why?- This link stems from the famous, but fictional, story of Washington cutting down his father's cherry tree at the age of 6.
That tale was completely made up by a traveling minister and bookseller Mason Weems, to better sell his book, and bring honesty to Washington's character.- Another disconnect is that cherries were never available in February, so a cherry pie was probably not consumed on his birthday if it was ever celebrated.
- Somehow, this fabrication of chopping down a cherry tree led to cherry pie consumption on this day, which further extends the unreality.
The first seven Presidents weren't technically born in the U.S. The Constitution required candidates be natural-born citizens. However, these seven were born before the USA existed. The first legal present was Martin Van Buren.- The U.S. Senate still reads Washington's 7,641-word Farewell Address. This practice began on 22February1862 as a morale-boosting gesture during the darkest days of the Civil War. Senator Roger Wicker recited this address on 18February2025. This year it will be Senator Tim Kaine on 23February2026 at 3PM ET. You can watch on C-SPAN.
By the way, the upcoming July 4th will be a special one for the USA. This will be our 250th birthday.
I'll end with a heart-warming story.
- Golfer Collin Morikawa has been struggling. Hadn't won a tournament for 2.5 years or so.
But he did at Pebble Beach yesterday.- A 62 on Saturday helped.
- This was a stressful, but wonderful, finish.
- He was tied going into the final hole with two others as one of the ending threesome.
The pressure would have been worse if world #1 Scottie Scheffler had a 63 instead of a 64 with three eagles, for he ended just one stroke back of Morikawa going into this final hole.
Morikawa had a good drive on the 18th par 5, but the wind was blowing so hard, he had to aim his 4-iron into the ocean for his ball to make a right turn towards the green.
Circumstances forced him to wait nearly 20 minutes to hit his second shot to the green. Read this article.- He was just off the green, and used this same 4-iron to get the ball 16 inches from the hole.
PGA pros sink 99% of putts from two feet or less.- 16 inches are 8 inches closer, but under these conditions, I would almost certainly have missed that fourth shot.
- One problem was that the wind was blowing so hard, that just trying to putt was a challenge, as gusts moved the ball on the green.
But he made the putt.- Watch this video, showing tears of emotion and announcing that his wife, Katherine Zhu, is expecting their first child in May.
- Oh, he won $3.6 million with this win.
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